Travel Agent was briefly onboard the 2,260-passenger Costa Luminosa as the ship was docked at PortMiami earlier this week. We took a short tour and had lunch on the ship, and while our time onboard was too brief for a review, here are a few snapshots taken during the two-hour visit.
Unlike MSC Divina, which has a European style product that's been "Americanized" somewhat for its South Florida sailings -- to better appeal to U.S. and Canadian guests as it sails year-round from Miami -- Costa officials told us they have no similar plans. They intend to keep their tried-and-true European/Italian style product. That said, unlike MSC Cruises, Costa does not have a ship year-round in North America. In addition, Costa's sister brands, including Carnival Cruise Lines, already provide a product designed for the North American market.
Embracing Italian style cruises, Costa Luminosa, which launched in 2009, is the latest Costa vessel to call South Florida home during the winter Caribbean season. It will sail 10-day itineraries that include port calls in such destinations as the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Mexico, along with other islands.
RELATED: Costa Luminosa Repositions in Miami for Winter Voyages
Sixty-eight percent of Costa Luminosa's 1,130 cabins have private balconies, the highest percentage in Costa's fleet. Amenities include multiple restaurants, three pools, 11 bars, a 4D cinema for virtual reality entertainment, a full-service spa and a grand shopping Galleria, with doors that have pull handles resembling Costa's signature yellow-and-blue funnels. The atrium is a mix of orange, tan and glitz and home to a bar as well as the "Reclining Woman 2004" sculpture created by famed artist Fernando Botero.